Recipe for Broccoli Leaves
STEP 1 - Prep and Par Boil
1. Separate green leaves from white stalks. Discard stalks.
2. Tear leaves into 4 -5 cm pieces.
3. Put leaves in a pot of cold water, covering by about 4 cm of water.
4. Bring leaves to a boil, then remove immediately from heat.
5. Pour off hot water and rinse leaves in cold water to stop cooking process.
6. Drain thoroughly and pat leaves dry.
STEP 2 - Cook Leaves
1. Rough chop drained leaves.
2. Fine chop of couple of cloves of garlic.
3. Splash a liberal amount of olive oil in a fry pan (or wok) and add garlic.
4. Heat garlic until soft. (Note: Don't burn garlic or it becomes bitter. If you do burn it, discard garlic and oil and start again).
5. Add leaves and cook over a medium-high heat about 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally so nothing sticks. For softer leaves, add a bit of broth (or water) and cover while cooking.
6. Salt and pepper to taste, then serve. If it's a bit juicy, use bread to mop up remaining sauce.
ADDITIONS
Add red chillis, panchetta, bacon, peppers, crushed tomatoes, etc. for variations. You can also reduce frying time slightly, then cover with Parmesan chesse and bake in oven until cheese melts.